Powered flexible conveyor

Abstract

A powdered, flexible, expandable conveyor comprises a pair of flexible, expandable link assemblies, preferably in the form of a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in an X-shaped chain. The conveyor surface preferably includes a plurality of individually powered rollers. The individually powered rollers are mounted between the link assemblies at spaced locations along the length of the conveyor. Each of the powered rollers is rotatably driven by a motor housed inside the roller together with an individual gear box. Each motor is electrically connected to a terminal block located outside the powered roller which in turn is connected to a power supply. The gear boxes individually associated with the various motors may have different gear ratios in order to accommodate different loading. The conveyor is sufficiently flexible to be able to form a curved conveyor surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A powered, flexible conveyor for transporting objects comprising: at least two spaced parallel flexible link assemblies;   a plurality of spaced rollers interconnecting the spaced parallel link assemblies;   means for mounting an end of each spaced roller onto the flexible link assemblies, said mounting means including an inner power roller link and an outer power roller link, one of said power roller links being vertically moveable relative to said spaced roller;   a motor housed in at least one of said spaced rollers for individually rotating said roller to transport objects along the conveyor; and   power supply means connected to said motor.   
     
     
       2. The powered, flexible conveyor of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rods each having a plurality of freely rotating skate wheels mounted thereon, said rods interconnecting said side link assemblies. 
     
     
       3. The conveyor of claim 1 wherein each link assembly comprises a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in an X-shaped chain. 
     
     
       4. The conveyor claim 1 wherein said roller housing said motor also has an individually associated gear box means housed within said roller. 
     
     
       5. A powered, flexible conveyor for transporting objects comprising: a pair of spaced parallel flexible link assemblies, each flexible link assembly comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in a chain;   a plurality of spaced rollers interconnecting the link assemblies, at least one of said spaced rollers being powered by a motor coupled to said roller to individually rotate said roller;   means for mounting an end of each spaced powered roller onto the flexible link assemblies, said mounting means including an inner power roller link and an outer power roller link, said inner power roller link including means for vertically sliding said inner power roller link relative to said outer power roller link; and   a power source for supplying power to the at least one motor.   
     
     
       6. The conveyor of claim 5 wherein said rollers define a conveyor bed, and said outer power roller link includes a base which remains co-planar with said conveyor bed. 
     
     
       7. The conveyor of claim 5 wherein the mounting means further comprises a shaft extending from each end of the spaced rollers, the shaft being rotatably received in apertures formed in said outer power roller links. 
     
     
       8. The conveyor of claim 5 further comprising a terminal block electrically connected to said motor, and means for securing said terminal block to one of said outer power roller links. 
     
     
       9. A powered, flexible conveyor for transporting objects comprising: a pair of spaced parallel flexible link assemblies, each flexible link assembly comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other in a chain;   a plurality of spaced rollers interconnecting the link assemblies, at least one of said spaced rollers being powered by a motor housed within said roller and coupled to said roller to rotate said roller;   means for mounting an end of each spaced powered roller onto the flexible link assemblies, said mounting means including an inner power roller link vertically moveable relative to said powered roller and an outer power roller link vertically fixed relative to said power roller; and   a power source for supplying power to the at least one motor.   
     
     
       10. The conveyor of claim 9 wherein said inner power roller link and outer power roller link are mounted to one of the pair of flexible link assemblies, and wherein said outer power roller link is also mounted to said powered roller.